| Berean Standard Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job answered and said: |
| 2“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die! | 2“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. |
| 3But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? | 3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? |
| 4I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock. | 4I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. |
| 5The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping. | 5In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. |
| 6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands. | 6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand. |
| 7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. | 7“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; |
| 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. | 8or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. |
| 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? | 9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? |
| 10The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. | 10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. |
| 11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food? | 11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? |
| 12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. | 12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. |
| 13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His. | 13“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. |
| 14What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released. | 14If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. |
| 15If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land. | 15If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. |
| 16True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His. | 16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. |
| 17He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges. | 17He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. |
| 18He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists. | 18He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. |
| 19He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established. | 19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. |
| 20He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders. | 20He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. |
| 21He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. | 21He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. |
| 22He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light. | 22He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. |
| 23He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them. | 23He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. |
| 24He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. | 24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. |
| 25They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards. | 25They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. |
| This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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